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 Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 6:43 am
The reservoir.
Samantha had asked her to meet up here, trusting her more and more to be on her own and navigate to places without her assistance or, sometimes literal, hand holding. It was a good way to learn about the city and all its strange parts, but sometimes Lydia did find herself getting lost. Especially with the archaic and ineffectual transportation systems of the city. They were over complicated and had far too many extraneous parts that made them inefficient.
Not to mention stressful. No wonder everyone on that long tube of metal and hot plastic chairs, the bus, was always so angry and unpleasant. And they often smelled a very strange way, but did not like to be asked for explanations.
Today, Lydia had opted to walk. She found she got places slower, but she learned a lot more along the way, and Sam was amenable to the idea. She adjusted the time she would arrive, to allow for the journey, though it seemed they had both miscalculated. Sam was no where to be found, and Lydia found herself tense and uncomfortable. No one knew what she was or where she was from, something Sam told her was very important, but she still felt very out of place in crowds, surrounded by voices and noise.
Laughter was still new to her. It was difficult to tell it apart from screams, as she was still learning the difference in the sounds themselves. She felt she had a firmer grasp on what caused each sound, though laughter was far more difficult to bring out in a human than a scream.
There was another strange sound in the air. Splashing, and she noticed the laughing people were leaping into a water source. She found herself staring, completely at a loss for an explanation.
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:06 pm
Duncan was walking away from one of the concession stands, electrolyte-filled drink in hand and just as he had opened it and taken a sip he noticed a young woman who was looking at the reservoir with a confused look on her face. He was off of the clock, which meant that he had no need to approach any of the people here on the beach, but he also didn't need to be constantly on the lookout for anyone drowning at the moment which gave him more time to help people who may have been lost, just like this woman. He decided on the latter, walking over to her, though not silently considering how squeaky the sand around the reservoir was for some reason. He was surprised they hadn't already replaced it. Perhaps people didn't mind the silly squeaking. "Are you all right miss? Is there anything I can help with?" He asked when he was finally close enough to her. "I'm Duncan, one of the lifeguards here, so if you have any questions I would be happy to answer them to the best of my ability."
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:18 pm
When Sam had told her to come 'dressed for the water', Lydia had no idea what that meant. She replied with one of the standard smiling faces she had been told held meaning, and, as she often did with information she did not understand, filed it away from later questioning or future investigation. She was still not the most proficient at looking things up on the phone she had been given, so she often left herself to ponder and discover things naturally.
Some things were definitely easier than others.
She was dressed in almost all black, with a few white accents like her collar and sleeve cuffs, a white button up hidden under a black vest. She was wearing long, black pants that almost covered the heavy, belted boots she had picked. Sam never questioned her choices, though she did offer advice on how to string the things she liked together into an almost coherent sense of style.
It was not Lydia's fault that she had a fundamental misunderstanding of how clothing worked. Style was not her forte, but she was, like with everything else on this planet, doing her best to learn.
At the strange squeaking, and then much less strange voice, behind her, Lydia turned slowly. Bright, but somehow dark, eyes fixed on the face she found looking at her curiously, and she nodded once.
"I am well. Is there some sort of fire or emergency I cannot see nearby? Why are these people jumping into the water? Are they flavoring it, perhaps?"
She felt that was a human enough question, as she had not mentioned being an alien, which she was told was step number one to blending in. Step number two was being polite.
"I'm sorry," she said blandly, not sounding sorry, "My name is Lydia. Which life are you guarding?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:32 pm
Duncan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the question. Perhaps she was from somewhere else? And there certainly were enough people that had never experienced swimming, goodness knew how many people he had to rescue who weren't able to swim but had decided they could jump straight into the reservoir without any problems. Too many signs were just straight up ignored. "There isn't any emergency, at least that I know of." He certainly didn't hear any whistles from the other lifeguards going off or anything else they would do to communicate an emergency. "And I don't know how much you want to flavor water that has had a bunch of people in it." He said with a chuckle. "Going into the water is just a way to cool off and get some respite from all of this heat. And people like to play and splash each other and burn off energy too. It can be good exercise if you like to swim in the water, though I would recommend an indoor pool to do that if you want to actually swim laps." You were much more likely to bump into people while swimming here than an indoor pool with designated lap lanes. "I'm Sumner. A lifeguard is just a position here. I work at the reservoir. I keep an eye out for any trouble that may be going on around here, fights and whatnot, and keep an eye out to see if anyone is drowning. Sometimes people underestimate the water and go too deep and can't get out of it, and sometimes people overestimate their abilities and then find out that they aren't the best of swimmers. And then there are little kids who seem to have no idea of self preservation." He let out a sigh. "Luckily there usually aren't too many, but I would say I see one drowning a week. No casualties yet at least."He took another look at her outfit. "Were you planning on meeting someone here?" Just because people came to the reservoir didn't mean they were all going into the water. Some people just liked to walk around the area. He couldn't understand it. The squeaking sand drove him up a wall and he sat in a chair most of the day.
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 5:55 pm
Lydia watched him curiously, strangely colored eyes looking him up and down without attempting to hide that she was sizing him up and drawing conclusions mentally. He seemed generally kind and she could see that, as far as she understood human anatomy, he was sufficiently capable. If someone were to catch on fire, it was probable that he would be able to put them out or usher them into the water in a timely manner.
She was not quite sure what other sort of life guarding techniques might be needed, though her mind did seem to be a little caught up on fire at the moment. There was a lot of water, though, and she realized it could be the drowning risk that he was actually protecting them from.
That made much more sense. It was further confirmed as he kindly explained further, and she nodded along with him thoughtfully while staring without blinking.
She did not need to blink nearly as much as humans.
"That would explain why they are all so scantily dressed. To protect their finer clothing from getting wet. I see." Sam had explained to her how expensive things could be, and that paying for them was difficult for some people. She urged caution to make sure things like her clothing and personal items, like her books, were not destroyed. Even the ones she borrowed from the library, which in itself was a fantastical realm of wonder.
"That is a very noble occupation. I hope you are compensated well for it. I have never been in water before, but if I were to become endangered by it, I am comforted knowing someone like you will be guarding my life."
The idea that she was a life, had a life worth living, was still a new one. On her planet, the beings that existed there could hardly be called living. They were criminals and outcasts, sent there to not only be forgotten and to die, but to be erased entirely. To become a part of a machine that toiled with no production any of them could ever be aware of. She found it more and more difficult to think of that place, when she was on one so astoundingly different.
So full of life.
"My friend, Samantha Whele. She said to meet her here, but now I think I see my error. When she said to come dressed for water, I believe she meant to... engage with it as they are all doing. I am not sure I am prepared for that, now." She looked puzzled for a moment, considering her options. "Perhaps she will have assumed that, and bring me something appropriate... she is good, with things like that. But you. Do you like... swimming? Water? If you were not on guard, would you find it entertaining?"
She had learned that some people had jobs they did not like to do. The idea was ridiculous: the fact that they had a choice, and were able to decide if they did or did not want to do something was well beyond anything she had ever experienced before. It seemed like a exorbitant luxury, one many took for granted, but she also could not blame them when they had been gifted a realm where it was possible.
The beauty of this planet was unending, and she was enraptured by it.
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 6:19 pm
Duncan couldn't help but full on laugh at how she described everyone. He was laughing so hard he had to bend over and put his hands on his knees, only barely keeping a grip on the "energizing" water that he had purchased. After a moment he was finally able to compose himself again, though he couldn't help but let out a few more chuckles. "Uh yeah, pretty much." He snrked at what she said again. "Sorry, it's just the way that you said it that was funny, you certainly aren't wrong in your assessment." He let out a sigh to make sure he was fully composed again. "It's also the rules here as well. If someone were to go in with their uh, finer clothing, then they may not be able to swim as well either. Clothes get really heavy when wet. It's why you should always were a life vest if you go out in a boat or kayaking or other water activities." He realized that might be confusing. "You can wear one to the reservoir or beach, you can see some kids in them, but most of the time in a place like this you aren't out in open water where it would be harder to find and rescue anyone who was having trouble."He could only shrug his shoulders. "Compensated enough to at least get enough breaks so that I can re-apply my sunscreen as needed and get lunch. It's important to make sure you are protected from the sun's rays when you're outside." At least he was pretty sure they were competitive, he at least hadn't had any problems paying rent and getting everything he needed. "I can't say I've met her before, so I can't say if she's here already or not. If you have a phone you might try calling her to see if she's here or not already." He couldn't help but chuckle at her last question. "Yeah, I wouldn't be doing this job if I hated it at least. It's not the most fun, but it can be exciting. At least more than standing at a register all day in my opinion." And it helped when he awakened as a Neptune Knight as well, even if he was still only a Squire at this point. "If you need a swimsuit, there should be some at the shop near here and changing stations if you want to swim. Otherwise it can be nice just to hang out and wander around or just take in everything or whatever."
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 6:36 pm
Lydia watched him as he laughed, familiar enough with it, though she was still unsure how to do it herself. She blinked, wondering what she had done that was so funny, though she had at least come to understand that some of her antics were strange and could be viewed as funny by those who knew better than her. She took it in stride, not offended but rather curious to learn how to correct herself in the future.
After all, she did still know that laughter was better than screaming, and she always preferred making someone laugh despite it being fundamentally harder.
She listened to his lesson, once he was done laughing, nodding her head eagerly and taking mental notes. She would know, for her next trip to the Reservoir, that she would need to come in something lighting in fabric and showing more of her body. That seemed easy enough, though she had at the very least noted that those swimming clothes were different in nature to the undergarments humans wore. Thankfully, for all their sakes, she had not simply tried to shed her outer clothing.
Her time on this planet was paying off, slowly but surely.
"Big Lyds!" A familiarly distraught voice called from behind them. Lydia turned to see Samantha, dressed in a light cover up dress with a swim suit underneath, came running over to them over the strangely squeaky sand. She had a duffle bag with her full of things she thought she might need: her emergency Wezen Preparation bag, as it were. She smiled apologetically to Duncan as she approached, looping her arm with the much taller Lydia's.
"There you are. Oh, stars, I'm so sorry. I got stuck in traffic, and... uhm," she looked at Duncan and blushed. She could only imagine what the other had been saying to him. Hopefully she had not brought up her prison planet. "Hello. Are you two talking? I'm so sorry to interrupt. She's new in town, and I really should have gotten here sooner! Thank you so much for keeping her company, uhm."
"I am unharmed, Samantha," Lydia reassured. "And this has been very educational. I am glad you were late."
"Oh. Er." Samantha gave Lydia a look, but not one that said she was surprised by the other's words. She almost looked amused, looking at Duncan again imploringly. "Well, thank you, anyway, for keeping her from wandering off. She's so curious about things!" She laughed, overly nervous.
Lydia looked blandly engaged, but her gaze soon returned to the water with new interest.
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 6:57 pm
Well, at least her friend had finally found her, and she seemed to be used to Lydia's questions. He nodded. "It's my job and well, I'm also happy to help. I just hope I wasn't too confusing for your friend here." He took a look at his watch and realized that he needed to be back at his chair soon. "Looks like my break is almost over. If you need any more help I'll be sitting in one of those tall shaded chairs." He said, pointing at another lifeguard. "But it was good to meet you Lydia! And I'm glad that she has a friend willing to help her Samantha." He said, to the young woman who had just come. He had been told her name after all. "Well, I'm sure I'll see you two around. Have fun out there!" He said with a wave and started to walk back to his station, not in a very cool way because there was only so much you could do to look cool while stepping on sand that continually squeaked. Lithiasaur Ending post from me! Thank you for the rp!
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